Date: Mon, 14 Jun 99 09:07:58 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Apuzzo Resigns; Join's NGLTF's Policy Institute ********************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director NGLTF 202-332-6483 ext. 3306 800-757-6476 pager bgressler@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC ********************************************* HIGHEST RANKING OPENLY-GAY US OFFICIAL LEAVES WHITE HOUSE; ASSUMES NAMED CHAIR AT NGLTF'S POLICY INSTITUTE THINK TANK Virginia Apuzzo and NGLTF Break Ground with First Endowed Chair Dedicated to Strategy Development for GLBT Movement WASHINGTON, DC --- June 14, 1999 ---The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's (NGLTF) Policy Institute announced today that Virginia Apuzzo, the Clinton Administration's highest ranking lesbian official, is resigning and will accept a new position at the Policy Institute's think-tank in New York City. The Policy Institute's Virginia Apuzzo Chair for Leadership in Public Policy is the first endowed chair to be created by the think-tank of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Ms. Apuzzo will join the Policy Institute staff as the first holder of the Apuzzo Chair on September 7th. The move reunites Ms. Apuzzo to an organization she served as Board leader and as Executive Director in the 1970's and 1980's. The Apuzzo Chair is designed to recognize leaders with a distinguished record of service on behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities. During Apuzzo's tenure at the Policy Institute, she will serve as a senior movement strategist, write and lecture on a wide range of issues, and steer several specific projects to increase support for GLBT equality in both the public and private sector. Drawing on her experiences in the White House and her many years of public service, Apuzzo will bring activists, policy makers and academics together to develop new strategies and to broaden support for GLBT equality. After Apuzzo's tenure, the Chair will be awarded to other distinguished activists, political leaders, scholars or business people who have been catalysts for change on behalf of GLBT people. "The Apuzzo Chair creates a capacity long missing in our national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement - the capacity to tap the wisdom of innovative leaders and harness their experience to strategically help our movement succeed," said Kerry Lobel, Executive Director of the Task Force. "We are delighted that with all the options available to her, Ginny chose to continue her movement work through NGLTF's Policy Institute." Lobel noted that with Apuzzo's addition, the Policy Instute houses some of the most seasoned and distinguished strategists in the GLBT movement. They include Institute director Urvashi Vaid, Senior Fellow Dave Fleischer, Aging and Religion Initiative consultant Ken South, and Senior Fellow and Institute Founder John D'Emilio. Virginia Apuzzo is a long-time leader and innovator in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement. A former educator and ex-nun, Apuzzo held the position of Assistant to the President for Administration and Management from 1997-1999, making her the highest ranking openly gay official in the Administration. Prior to this, Apuzzo served as Associate Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor. She is former Commissioner of the New York State Civil Service Commission and former President of the State Department of Civil Service. In 1980, as an openly gay lesbian delegate to the Democratic National Convention, Apuzzo co-authored the first gay and lesbian civil rights plank of a major political party. As Executive Director of NGLTF from 1982-1986, Apuzzo testified at the first Congressional Hearings on AIDS and spearheaded the community's response to HIV/AIDS policy on the federal level. In addition, Apuzzo initiated the first national anti-violence work in our movement and helped develop the concept and funding of the first anti-violence projects in San Francisco and New York. Throughout the 1980's, she was an outspoken advocate for a progressive and inclusive HIV policy at the national and state level. "Creating change is about matching ideas with a strategy that will ensure their success," said Apuzzo. "As our movement grows larger, the traditional pursuit of access and visibility are no longer enough. We need to move from access to responsiveness and from visibility to full participation. We must not just think, but do." The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was founded in 1973 and is the leading grassroots organizing, public policy advocacy and educational organization in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement. NGLTF's Policy Institute was founded in 1995 and is today the largest think tank in the GLBT movement. Since its inception, the Policy Institute has formulated original models for collaboration and change at the national, state and local level, producing substantive research and strategic projects to strengthen the GLBT movement and its goals. NGLTF's Policy Institute is a think tank dedicated to research, policy analysis and strategic projects to advance the greater understanding and equality of GLBT people. NGLTF works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against GLBT people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. Photo, biography, and background information on the Policy Institute and the Apuzzo Chair available on request or at http://www.ngltf.org. -30-_________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.